OLD GOA
Two linemen were injured when the electricity pole they were working on came crashing down after a tree fell on the power lines.
The incident happened near Carambolim panchayat on Tuesday morning, when the linesmen Harendra Shirodkar and Vishnudas Shirodkar, both from Dongrim-Mandur, were working on repairing the stay (support) of the power pole.
While Harendra was on top of the pole, Vishnudas was standing on the ladder. Just as they were about to get down, a tree came crashing down on the power lines, upon the impact of which the pole came crashing down.
Harendra jumped to save his life but unfortunately suffered a deep wound on his rib area, which came in contact with the angle of the pole.
On the other hand, Vishnudas, who also jumped from the ladder, suffered injuries to his leg due to the heavy landing.
Both the linesmen were later shifted to the Mandur RHTC, where Harendra was given 14 stitches for the wound, and Vishnudas had his injured leg plastered as he had suffered a muscle tear.
Both the linesmen are currently recuperating at their homes.
Later, Mandur Sarpanch Prashant Naik paid a visit to the residences of both Harendra and Vishnudas to inquire about their health.
However, Naik expressed anguish over the statement of the power minister, who is alleged to have passed a derogatory comment when a reporter questioned whether he would speak with the injured linesmen.
“This is an insulting statement from the power minister, showing total disregard for human life. The linesmen are putting their lives in danger when they are working without proper safety equipment, and just because they don’t hold high positions does not give anyone the right to insult them,” Naik opined.
“If the minister did not want to call, he could have simply said ‘no’ or that he would ask his officials to do so,” Naik added.
